Can I Clear My Own Goods, or Do I Need a Clearing Agent?
You have placed your first big order on Alibaba or AliExpress, it is on its way to Namibia, and now you are stuck on the same question everyone reaches: *do I have to use a clearing agent, or can I just clear it myself?* Here is a straight answer.
The honest answer
You are not legally forced to use a clearing agent for every import. But for a first import — and for most occasional, personal imports — using a registered clearing agent is strongly advisable. The clearing agent prepares and submits the customs declaration and the supporting documentation on your behalf, using the customs system, and knows how to classify your goods and satisfy the requirements. That is the part that trips up first-timers.
What a clearing agent actually does
A clearing agent handles the technical clearance work:
- Prepares and lodges the customs declaration in the customs system on your behalf.
- Classifies your goods under the correct HS tariff code (getting this wrong causes delays and wrong charges).
- Assembles and checks the required documents for your specific goods.
- Deals with NamRA queries, valuation questions and the release process.
You provide the inputs; the agent does the technical lodgement and follow-up.
Licensed Partner Agents
Need a NamRA-licensed agent to handle your clearance?
WalvisLink coordinates it for you — we place your file with a vetted, NamRA-licensed partner agent who handles the ASYCUDA submission and NamRA liaison, and we manage the documentation. Response within 4 business hours.
What you need to give your agent
To clear your goods, your agent will typically need:
- Your commercial invoice, with the details of the goods, quantities and values. Make sure it describes the goods properly — "shoes, 200 pairs, US$5,000" is not enough; "men's safety boots, steel toe, rubber sole, 200 pairs at US$25" is the kind of description customs wants.
- Your TIN (see do I need a TIN to import?).
- Any transport document (bill of lading, airway bill or road consignment note).
- Any permit or certificate required for your particular goods.
Choosing a clearing agent
A few things worth knowing:
- NamRA does not recommend a specific clearing agent — agents operate independently. The choice is yours.
- Agents operate at the ports of entry: the airport, the harbour, and the land borders, depending on where your goods arrive.
- Look for someone responsive who will tell you the cost up front and explain the charges, rather than surprising you at the end.
Our guide on choosing a customs clearing agent in Namibia goes deeper.
Can you clear it yourself?
You can, but be realistic about what it involves: registering on and learning the customs declaration process, correctly classifying your goods under the HS tariff, and assembling the right documents — with the risk that mistakes cause delays, queries or wrong charges. For a one-off personal parcel, the time and risk usually outweigh the saving. That is why most first-time and occasional importers use an agent.
What WalvisLink handles
We take the whole clearance off your hands. Tell us what you ordered and we will confirm the cost up front, prepare and lodge the declaration through a NamRA-licensed partner agent, handle any NamRA queries, and get your goods released — you just collect them. We are a Walvis Bay customs-clearance platform built to make this simple for online shoppers and businesses alike.